The I ♥ Cebu blog by Peanut Browas

The island of Cebu was named as the sixth best island on the “World’s Best Islands” list of Travel + Leisure magazine. One reader of the international travel magazine said that Cebu is ideal for travelers hoping to save on recreational activities. While there are a number of well-known tourist spots on the island, Cebu is also home to several undiscovered paradises. One of these yet-to-be-discovered areas is Carnaza Island.

Carnaza Island – image source: Carnaza Island Facebook Page

​Located off the northern coast of Cebu, Carnaza Island is a part of the municipality of Daanbantayan. The island is around two hours away from mainland Cebu. It can be reached through an outrigger boat from Tapilon port in Daanbantayan. It hosts a small community of residents and is home to a number of white sand beaches that are untouched by commercial development. While the island has a resort owned by a well-known political family in Cebu, it does not accept walk-ins. The resort is also open to the friends and family of the family.

Carnaza Island – image source: Carnaza Island Facebook Page

​Due to this, visitors may have to bring their own tents and food if they want to stay a night or two on the island. They can also get in touch with one of the barangay councilors who provide lodgings for a fee. While there are some small stores on the island, it is advisable for visitors to bring their own provisions since the goods may be rather expensive as compared to buying them from the mainland.

Things to do

Aside from lazing around on the beach the whole day, visitors can also try their hand on cliff jumping from a small hill close to the residential area of the island. Hiring a boat will allow visitors to go to beaches located in the other parts of the island. They can also go snorkeling close to the shore of the island. In fact, Carnaza Island is one of the stopover points of tourists staying in Malapascua Island. Visitors can also hire a boat for a side trip to La Manok Island, which is around thirty minutes away from Carnaza Island. The island is essentially a pair of islands connected through a sand bar.

Carnaza Island – image source: biliranisland.com

Getting to Carnaza Island

It is necessary to take a bus or van ride from the Cebu North Bus Terminal in Subangdaku, Mandaue to Tapilon port in Daanbantayan to get to Carnaza Island. If taking a bus, visitors should hop on a bus marked Maya-Kawit or Maya-Bagay and they should tell the driver or the conductor to drop them off at the Tapilon port. If they fail to do so, they may be dropped off at the Maya Port, which is the jump off point to Malapascua Island. After reaching the Tapilon port, travelers can ride an outrigger boat headed for Carnaza Island. The first trip to the island leaves the port at 7:00 AM while the last trip leaves at 4:00 AM.

Carnaza Island – image source: youtube.com

​Once visitors reach the island, it is necessary for them to drop by the barangay hall to register. They will be asked to provide their names, purpose of the visit, length of their stay on the island and where they will stay. While at the barangay hall, visitors can also ask for the barangay councilor who offers lodgings to visitors for a fee.

Carnaza Island – image source: beyondcebu.com

​Carnaza Island is just one of the many undiscovered paradises in the Island of Cebu. While the island has a small community of residents, it has remained relatively untouched by commercial development. Have you visited Carnaza Island already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.